A new article in Stars and Stripes, the official news publication of the U.S. Department of Defense, has reignited debate in Washington over Section 907 – a controversial provision that restricts direct U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan. The piece calls on Congress to repeal the amendment and solidify the strategic gains of the TRIPP project (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity).
Adopted in the early 1990s under strong pressure from Armenian diaspora lobbyists during the Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict, Section 907 has long been viewed in Baku as an outdated relic that no longer reflects today’s geopolitical realities. Yet despite annual waivers and multiple calls for repeal, the amendment remains in force.
TRIPP reshapes U.S. strategic thinking
American political analyst Samson Katzman told Media.Az that the Stars and Stripes article – written by prominent scholar Stephen Blank – is significant precisely because of where it was published.
“Stars and Stripes posted Blank’s piece titled ‘Making a Good TRIPP Better’. TRIPP is an ambitious U.S. initiative announced by the Trump administration to bolster American involvement in the Trans-Caspian transport corridor,” Katzman said.
According to him, TRIPP is set to deliver multiple strategic benefits:
stabilize long-term peace in the South Caucasus;
boost regional economies;
enable the U.S. to access rare-earth metals from Central Asia;
counterbalance China’s and Russia’s influence.
“These are direct U.S. interests – governmental and commercial,” Katzman stressed. “That is why the author logically asks: if Armenia and Azerbaijan have chosen a path to peace, what is the point of maintaining an amendment that now looks like a pure anachronism?”
He believes the article may serve as a signal to members of Congress to rethink the issue.
Why Section 907 is still in place
However, Katzman cautions that repeal remains politically complicated:
Some lawmakers – especially from districts with strong Armenian diaspora presence – view Section 907 as a tool of leverage over Azerbaijan.
A full repeal could be interpreted as a sharp shift in U.S. policy in a sensitive region where American, Russian, Turkish, and Iranian interests intersect.
Procedurally, repeal requires a full legislative initiative passing both chambers of Congress and receiving presidential approval.
“In the next one to two years, the likelihood of full repeal is modest,” Katzman noted. “But the conversation is gaining strength, and the question of revising or replacing Section 907 is definitely on the agenda.”
Russian perspective
Russian South Caucasus expert Konstantin Tasits emphasized that only Congress can eliminate the amendment – something the Armenian lobby will likely resist.
He pointed out that Azerbaijan’s recent decision to open transit for Armenia through its territory may influence Washington’s future calculations, though it is still unclear to what extent.
